August 25, 2008

By now, my local Kinnon Keepsakes friends, you should have received the email from Amy. If you haven't, you can read it here.

Amy has decided to close the store after six years of business. All of us at Kinnon Keepsakes are heartbroken over this decision, but it was one she had to make. The girls I've worked with have become like family. I've made friends and been inspired by them. I've grown as an artist and as a teacher. I've truly enjoyed working for Amy since the beginning.

Though I'm sad, I am trying to approach this like the saying says.... when a door closes, a window opens. I have decided that here is where my word for the year, cause, should be lighting up like a neon sign. I need to be responsible for where my path will take me next. I have some things in the works which I will reveal in a little while. The kids go back to school next week and I can go at it full force then.

I hope to see you, my Kinnon Keepsakes friends, at some point in the future. I hope you will continue to keep in touch through my blog and email.

August 24, 2008

August 21, 2008

Less than two weeks left until school starts and we're busier than ever. So far this week we've had Sophie to the vet for her check-up, the kids and I have been to the dentist (no cavities.... yes even me), the kids and I were at Crystal Cave, the grocery store, the hairdresser. Whew.

Next week looks less active on the calender. Thank goodness ~ a breather before we get back in the school routine. :-)

August 13, 2008

I'm sure most of you know the Dukes of Hazzard. Well, we had our own version of that here today....

Meet cousins Bo and Luke Duke (a.k.a. cousins Ben and Gabe) careening around and jumping off steep hills with the General Lee, landing without a dent or scratch {or putting one in the vehicles belonging to their parents parked nearby} )....

August 12, 2008

August 11, 2008

My mom came up to eat lunch with me and the kids and she brought along some 'stuff' that she found when she was cleaning out a drawer. It was letters that I wrote to her when I was in college (20 years ago), a few cards that I made for her when I was in my early teens, my grandmother's school bank savings book from 1933, my high school graduation program, and the programs from my dance recitals in 1976 and 1977. Some of the songs from the recitals I remember, some I do not. So, thanks to the technology of today, after she left, I went to YouTube to search for them and, voila ~ I can listen to them!

That's what I was doing when I heard a noise outside. It sounded like a helicopter hovering. And hovering. And hovering.

And in the back of my mind a thought appeared ~~~~ could it be? It could.

Let me flash back in time about 30 - 35 years. I lived in a very small town located near an airport. Our house was situated in a direct line with one of the runways at the airport, so depending on the weather and other conditions, the airplanes would fly very low right over our house as they approached the runway to land. It was one of those things like living next to a busy highway or train tracks where you hear it so much that you don't hear it anymore, know what I mean?

Well, one thing I can remember vividly from that time was playing out in the yard and hearing a sound - a different sound - a rare sound. The sound of a blimp. I would yell, "The blimp! The blimp!", and I can still see my mom coming to my brother's or my bedroom window upstairs and looking out. Oh, I would get so excited!

Okay. Flash back to the present day ~ this afternoon, to be precise ~ with me sitting at my computer and hearing a noise outside. I lean forward to look out my window and see nothing. But I hear that sound. I get up, walk down the hall, through the kitchen and out the screen door.

There it is.

The blimp! The blimp!

I jump up and down, screaming, "The blimp! The blimp!"

(please keep in mind that I am now a 40 year old woman who on any other occasion would be considered sane)

I run in the house for my camera and the phone. I call my mom. She answers and I tell her to listen!.... do you hear it?!!!!! It's the blimp!!!!!!

By now my heart is pounding. I'm jumping up and down in the yard and waving frantically! It's the blimp! I dare a quick glance to see if any of the neighbors are out and wondering what the ordinarily sane woman is doing jumping up and down and screaming in her yard.

Ohhhhh, just look at it.

It was then, as it was almost passed, that I realized my camera has a 'movie' setting. So I leave you with my beloved blimp flying away, and me saying something to the effect of there it goes to my mom who was still on the phone with me. Just listen to that sound that only a blimp can make......

August 10, 2008

Never thought I'd see the day. She's very cautious about trying new things and it takes her a long time to trust herself enough to realize she can do it. I know it all works out in the end, she's a late bloomer with a lot of things, and we try to encourage her. Next on the agenda is riding a bike. Santa brought her a big kid bike (without training wheels) and she's very reluctant to learn without that security of the training wheels. We'll get her there!

I used Scenic Route paper and some scraps (the orange splotchy paper is Tim Holtz.... can't remember the maker of the arrow paper). Thickers alphas for the title. Scenic Route rub-ons and chipboard shape ('on my own'). The fish transparencies are Design Originals from about 5 years ago. The jewels are Queen & Co.

Some close-ups...

Remember how I said to make things work for you? Well, the paper on the top is supposed to be a sun. I placed the pictures on the paper and the half circle showing from the sun reminded me of a fish jumping out of the water, so I went with it. :-)